Czech hockey fans punished for racial chants toward Flyers' Simmonds

PRAGUE (AP) — A court in the Czech Republic has banned eight fans from a stadium for one year for racially abusing Philadelphia Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds in October when he was playing there during the NHL lockout.

Judge Petr Novak at the court in the northern city of Chomutov called Wednesday’s verdict “sufficient.”

Simmonds, who is black, was the target of racist chants while playing for Liberec White Tigers at the Chomutov Pirates on Oct. 28 in the Czech league.

The Czech Republic ice hockey federation has already fined the Pirates $1,500 for the chants. The Chomutov club also apologized to Simmonds.